Umbrella frame and crankcase having integrated luminaire

Abstract

A novel crankcase and umbrella frame for a crank operated umbrella, which illuminates an area about the umbrella, including an umbrella canopy. Crank umbrella frames generally include a support pole, a base, a plurality of pivoting umbrella ribs, and an operating assembly. The operating assembly provides a crank, a crankcase, and a transmission for opening or closing the umbrella ribs. The crankcase of the present invention houses not only a portion of the crank, but at least one integrated luminaire configured so as to be capable of providing light in a desired direction, including toward a supported umbrella canopy to produce a pleasing and diffuse light. Integrating such luminaire in a low profile, convenient, and aesthetically pleasing manner into the crankcase produces a diffuse light without interfering with the operation of the umbrella canopy or activities in the vicinity of the umbrella.

1 . An umbrella frame for supporting an umbrella canopy and illuminating an area about the umbrella frame, wherein the umbrella frame comprises: 
 a tubular support pole having a first end and a second end;    a base that engages with the first end of the support pole to mount the support pole in a desired orientation;    a plurality of umbrella ribs, wherein one end of each of the plurality of ribs is pivotally mounted onto the second end of the support pole, so that the plurality of ribs are disposed radially about the support pole and are capable of supporting an umbrella canopy;    an operating assembly comprising a crank, a crankcase, and a transmission that is operably engaged with the crank and the plurality of umbrella ribs for converting rotary motion of the crank to pivoting motion of the plurality of ribs so as to open or close the plurality of umbrella ribs;    wherein the crankcase is a body defining a cavity that is attached to the support pole, a first portion of the cavity houses at least a portion of the crank, and further wherein integrated into the crankcase is at least one luminaire, the luminaire comprising a fixture enclosure, a lamp mount, and a lighting system configured so as to be capable of providing light in a desired direction of illumination;    wherein the fixture enclosure is an integrated portion of the crankcase projecting from the support pole and defining a portion of the cavity, and having at least one illumination aperture facing generally toward a desired direction of illumination, wherein the illumination aperture has a perimeter and is configured to receive a lens such that the lens may be independently removed from the fixture enclosure for access into the fixture enclosure;    wherein the lamp mount is mounted onto a portion of the crankcase within the fixture enclosure; and    a lighting system comprising at least one light source and at least one circuit for electrically connecting the at least one light source to at least one power supply, wherein the light source is mounted onto the lamp mount within the fixture enclosure and the light source and lamp mount are configured so as to be capable of providing light through the lens in a desired direction of illumination.    
   
   
       2 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the desired direction of illumination is in a general direction toward a supported umbrella canopy.  
   
   
       3 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the desired direction of illumination is in a generally downward direction.  
   
   
       4 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the support pole defines a hole between an interior of the support pole and the cavity, wherein at least one first portion of the circuit of the lighting system is disposed within an interior of the support pole and at least one second portion of the circuit is disposed within the cavity of the crankcase so as to connect with the light source.  
   
   
       5 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit of the lighting system further comprises an electrical switch disposed within the circuit for controlling power to the light source.  
   
   
       6 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture enclosure further comprises a drain hole in a lower portion of the fixture enclosure for draining water.  
   
   
       7 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one illumination aperture is further configured to receive a gasket for sealing the lens to the fixture enclosure.  
   
   
       8 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a gasket capable of being positioned about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture without substantially blocking the illumination aperture and the at least one illumination aperture is configured to receive the gasket;    a threaded lens securing ring sized to fit about the illumination aperture and the fixture enclosure is threaded about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture so as to be capable of threadably engaging the lens securing ring; and    wherein, when the gasket and the lens are received by the at least one illumination aperture, and the lens securing ring is threadably engaged with the fixture enclosure, then the gasket is compressed thereby sealing the fixture enclosure against the entry of water.    
   
   
       9 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a low voltage lamp comprising a low voltage bulb and a low voltage socket for receiving the low voltage bulb, wherein the low voltage socket is mounted on the lamp mount, and further wherein the power source is a low voltage power supply.  
   
   
       10 . The umbrella frame of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circuit is waterproof.  
   
   
       11 . An umbrella frame for supporting and illuminating an umbrella canopy, wherein the umbrella frame comprises: 
 a tubular support pole having a first end and a second end;    a base that engages with the first end of the support pole to mount the support pole in a desired orientation;    a plurality of umbrella ribs, wherein one end of each of the plurality of ribs is pivotally mounted onto the second end of the support pole, so that the plurality of ribs are disposed radially about the support pole and are capable of supporting an umbrella canopy;    an operating assembly comprising a crank, a crankcase, and a transmission that is operably engaged with the crank and the plurality of umbrella ribs for converting rotary motion of the crank to pivoting motion of the plurality of ribs so as to open or close the plurality of umbrella ribs;    wherein the crankcase is a body defining a cavity that is attached to the support pole, a first portion of the cavity houses at least a portion of the crank, and further wherein integrated into the crankcase is at least one luminaire, the luminaire comprising a fixture enclosure, a lamp mount, and a lighting system configured so as to be capable of providing light in a desired direction of illumination;    wherein the fixture enclosure is an integrated portion of the crankcase projecting from the support pole and defining a second portion of the cavity, and having at least one illumination aperture facing a desired direction of illumination, wherein the illumination aperture has a perimeter and is configured to receive a lens such that the lens may be independently removed from the fixture enclosure for access into the fixture enclosure;    wherein an inner wall disposed within the crankcase generally separates the first portion of the cavity and the second portion of the cavity;    wherein the lamp mount is mounted onto the inner wall within the fixture enclosure; and    a lighting system comprising at least one light source and at least one circuit for electrically connecting the at least one light source to at least one power supply, wherein the light source is mounted onto the lamp mount within the fixture enclosure and the light source and lamp mount are configured so as to be capable of providing light through the lens in a desired direction of illumination.    
   
   
       12 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the desired direction of illumination is in a general direction toward a supported umbrella canopy.  
   
   
       13 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the desired direction of illumination is in a generally downward direction.  
   
   
       14 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the support pole defines a first hole between an interior of the support pole and the cavity    wherein the inner wall defines a second hole between the first portion of the cavity and the second portion of the cavity, and    wherein a first portion of the circuit of the lighting system is disposed within a portion of the support pole, a second portion of the circuit of the lighting system is disposed within the first portion of the cavity, and a third portion of the circuit of the lighting system is disposed within the second portion of the cavity.    
   
   
       15 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the circuit of the lighting system further comprises an electrical switch disposed within the circuit for controlling power to the light source.  
   
   
       16 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the fixture enclosure further comprises a drain hole in a lower portion of the fixture enclosure for draining water.  
   
   
       17 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one illumination aperture is further configured to receive a gasket for sealing the lens to the fixture enclosure.  
   
   
       18 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 a gasket capable of being positioned about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture without substantially blocking the illumination aperture and the at least one illumination aperture is configured to receive the gasket;    a threaded lens securing ring sized to fit about the illumination aperture and the fixture enclosure is threaded about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture so as to be capable of threadably engaging the lens securing ring; and    wherein, when the gasket and the lens are received by the at least one illumination aperture, and the lens securing ring is threadably engaged with the fixture enclosure, then the gasket is compressed thereby sealing the fixture enclosure against the entry of water.    
   
   
       19 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the light source is a low voltage lamp comprising a low voltage bulb and a low voltage socket for receiving the low voltage bulb, wherein the low voltage socket is mounted on the lamp mount, and further wherein the power source is a low voltage power supply.  
   
   
       20 . The umbrella frame of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one circuit is waterproof.  
   
   
       21 . A crankcase for use in providing illumination about an umbrella operated by a crank and a transmission, the crankcase comprising: 
 a body defining a cavity having a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion, wherein the first cavity portion houses at least a portion of the crank and the second cavity portion houses at least one luminaire integrated into the body, the luminaire comprising a fixture enclosure, a lamp mount, and a lighting system configured so as to be capable of providing light in a desired direction of illumination;    wherein the fixture enclosure is an integrated portion of the body defining the second cavity portion and having at least one illumination aperture facing a desired direction of illumination, wherein the illumination aperture has a perimeter and is configured to receive a lens such that the lens may be independently removed from the fixture enclosure for access into the fixture enclosure;    wherein the lamp mount is mounted onto a portion of the body within the fixture enclosure; and    a lighting system comprising at least one light source and at least one circuit for electrically connecting the at least one light source to at least one power supply, wherein the light source is mounted onto the lamp mount within the fixture enclosure and the light source and lamp mount are configured so as to be capable of providing light through the lens in a desired direction of illumination.    
   
   
       22 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the umbrella includes an umbrella canopy and the desired direction of illumination is in a general direction toward the umbrella canopy.  
   
   
       23 . The umbrella frame of  claim 21 , wherein the desired direction of illumination is in a generally downward direction.  
   
   
       23 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the circuit of the lighting system further comprises an electrical switch disposed within the circuit for controlling power to the light source.  
   
   
       24 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the fixture enclosure further comprises a drain hole in a lower portion of the fixture enclosure for draining water.  
   
   
       25 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one illumination aperture is further configured to receive a gasket for sealing the lens to the fixture enclosure.  
   
   
       26 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a gasket capable of being positioned about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture without substantially blocking the illumination aperture and the at least one illumination aperture is configured to receive the gasket;    a threaded lens securing ring sized to fit about the illumination aperture and the fixture enclosure is threaded about the perimeter of the at least one illumination aperture so as to be capable of threadably engaging the lens securing ring; and    wherein, when the gasket and the lens are received by the at least one illumination aperture, and the lens securing ring is threadably engaged with the fixture enclosure, then the gasket is compressed thereby sealing the fixture enclosure against the entry of water.    
   
   
       27 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the light source is a low voltage lamp comprising a low voltage bulb and a low voltage socket for receiving the low voltage bulb, wherein the low voltage socket is mounted on the lamp mount, and further wherein the power source is a low voltage power supply.  
   
   
       28 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one circuit is waterproof.  
   
   
       29 . The crankcase of  claim 21 , wherein the circuit of the lighting system further comprises an electrical switch capable of being operated remotely that is disposed within the circuit for controlling power to the light source.